Reflex XTR is also excellent for learning 3D. I've just about got torque rolling and tail touching figured on the sim though doing it for real is a little trickier because of the added "fear factor" but XTR is a great sim for learning all the 3D stuff as its physics are so accurate (and the graphics are to die for!). You can download a lot of 3D foamy/shockflyer designs for it from www.rc-sim.de

There are some planes for the free FMS sim that hover well and do some 3d reasonably well. RF2 is not that great and there are questions as to wether ver#3 is anything more than eye candy. Personally AFP is my favorite but you might want to wait for the "delux" version out soon, or at least confirm from your vender he will upgrade free. Look in the simulation forum!

The problem with other sims compared to FMS is they are several TIMES the cost.

Do a search for the site that sells the bundled FMS software with the cable you need to connect your tx to your computer. I think its $35-$40 max for everything. The website is something like tt-i-us or something like that.

Then search online for FMS models. I found a T3D model and an SX2 and SX3 models that work perfectly for foamies.

No, FMS isn't as accurate as the others. Its maybe 90% accurate in comparison to the others. But these are foamies...you could get an entire foamy plane up in the air for what some of the others cost.

I flew FMS for about 6 weeks, maybe an hour or two every night, before I maidened my T3D. I was doing full 3D flights on the maiden. By the time I got to the T3DII, I was STYLIN'.

BTW, finally sold my FMS software and cable for $10 less than what I bought it for in the "For Sale" section here on rcgroups. $10 for countless hours of training. I'm no competition pilot, but I wow the neighbors with my planes, and a big secret to my success was FMS.

I respect other people's opinions here. The fancier sims are very accurate and cool. But for pure foamy flying, don't nix FMS before you consider that for the $, you get lots of stick time and practice at a fraction of the other sim's cost.

Wish I hadn't sold my FMS now, I might buy another pack to learn how to fly 3D choppers!